How Far in Advance Should You Book a Cruise?

Sometimes the best part of booking early isn't the price. It's knowing something good is waiting for you. 🌊

There is something about putting a vacation on the calendar.

You may still have months to wait. You haven't packed a single thing. You probably haven't even decided what you're going to do when you get there.

But suddenly, it's there.

Something to look forward to.

And when you're in the middle of a ridiculously long workweek, eating dinner at 8:00 because the day got away from you again, or wondering how in the world it's only Tuesday...

You get to think:

But in 247 days, I'll be sitting by the ocean with a drink in my hand.

And sometimes that's enough. 😉

But there's another really good reason to get that cruise on the calendar early:

You usually have more choices.

So, how far in advance should you book a cruise?

The frustrating travel-advisor answer is...

It depends.

But let me explain.

For Most Cruises, I Like 9–18 Months

If you're wondering how early you should book a cruise, my general recommendation for most travelers is about 9–18 months before sailing.

That doesn't mean you can't book closer to departure. You absolutely can.

But booking a cruise early usually gives us a much better selection of ships, itineraries and cabins.

And that matters more than people realize.

I hear people say all the time:

"I'm just going to wait and see if the price drops."

Could it?

Absolutely.

But here's what doesn't get talked about enough:

The price isn't the only thing you're choosing.

You're choosing where you'll sleep for seven nights.

You're choosing whether you have a balcony.

You're choosing whether your cabin is near the elevator or at the end of what feels like a three-mile hallway.

You're choosing whether there are cabins near your friends.

You're choosing the itinerary you actually want instead of whichever one still has space.

And if you're particular about any of those things?

Waiting can cost you something more important than money:

Choice.

Some Cruises Should Be Booked Even Earlier

There are certain trips where I would much rather hear from you too early than too late.

Alaska is a great example.

If you tell me you want a balcony cabin, Glacier Bay, a particular month and a specific itinerary, we've already narrowed our options considerably.

The same is true for Europe.

Or a milestone anniversary.

Or a group of friends who want cabins near one another.

Or anyone tied to a school calendar, a work shutdown or very specific vacation dates.

The more things that are non-negotiable, the earlier we should start talking.

That's one of the questions I ask clients when we begin planning:

What matters most to you?

Because if the answer is simply, "Put me on a ship somewhere warm whenever it's cheapest," we can be incredibly flexible.

But if the answer is:

"We want to celebrate our 25th anniversary in June, we want a balcony, we'd love the ABC islands, we prefer a ship with great food and live music, and I don't want to fly across the country..."

Well...

Now we've got some planning to do. 😄

And that's exactly the kind of planning I love.

What About Last-Minute Cruise Deals?

They exist.

And I love a good deal as much as anybody.

If you're flexible about when you travel, where you go, which ship you sail and which cabin you sleep in, a last-minute cruise can be fantastic.

But I don't recommend building your entire vacation strategy around the hope that one will appear.

Especially if you have limited vacation time.

We've talked about this before:

The cheapest cruise isn't always the best choice.

A $300 savings doesn't feel like much of a bargain if you end up on the wrong ship, with an itinerary you don't love, in the cabin nobody else wanted.

Price matters. Of course it does. But value matters more.

➡️ If you missed it, read: [The Cheapest Cruise Isn't Always the Best Choice].

I'd much rather help you choose the ship and itinerary that fit the way you actually want to vacation than save you a few dollars on something you're going to spend seven days wishing were different.

That's the difference between finding a cruise...

and planning your vacation.

Booking Early Doesn't Mean Paying for the Whole Trip Today

This may be my favorite part.

In many cases, reserving your cruise means putting down a deposit and then having months before the remaining balance is due.

So instead of suddenly deciding you need several thousand dollars for a vacation three months from now, you've given yourself time.

Time to budget.

Time to plan flights.

Time to think about excursions.

Time to decide whether you're extending your vacation by a night or two.

And, perhaps most importantly...

Time to get excited.

I think we underestimate how much that part matters.

Maybe You Need Something on the Calendar

Life moves fast.

There will always be another deadline.

Another bill.

Another load of laundry.

Another week where you and the person you love realize you've talked about groceries, work, the dog and what's for dinner...but haven't really talked to each other.

That's part of why I believe so strongly in travel.

A vacation isn't going to magically fix an overloaded life.

But it can give you permission to step outside of it for a little while.

To sleep late.

To order dessert.

To sit somewhere beautiful without needing to accomplish anything.

To laugh with your favorite person.

To remember what life feels like when you're not rushing to the next thing.

Life moves fast. Travel gives us permission to slow down long enough to remember what matters.

And when that trip is already on the calendar?

You get a little piece of it before you ever leave home.

You get the countdown.

You get the anticipation.

You get to say:

"Just 83 more days."

And on some weeks, that little reminder feels pretty darn good.

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So, When Is the Best Time to Book a Cruise?

For most cruises, starting 9–18 months before you want to travel gives us a great planning window.

But if you want a particularly popular itinerary, specific cabin, holiday sailing, milestone trip or have limited travel dates, starting even earlier can be smart.

And here's the best part:

You don't need to have it all figured out before you call me.

You don't have to know the ship.

You don't have to know the itinerary.

You don't even have to know exactly where you want to go.

Tell me what you want the vacation to feel like.

Do you need rest?

Adventure?

Sunshine?

Really good food?

Time alone with your partner?

A week where absolutely nobody asks you what's for dinner?

Start there.

I'll help with the rest.

Because sometimes the best vacation decision you can make isn't finding the cheapest cruise.

It's simply deciding that you need something good to look forward to. 🌊

Ready to put something on the calendar?

You don't have to know exactly where you're going yet. That's what I'm here for.

Tell me what you're dreaming about, and we'll figure out the rest together.

Start planning with Stay Salty Travel Company